West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-07-22
THE ALBEMARLE PIPPIN.

In response to an inquiry, c. b.
Massie wrote the following letter
from Clearsville, Tenn, to A. B.
Blaky, editor of the Fruit and
Grape Grower:
DEAR SIR-Yours received day
or two ago. The first extensive
propagator of the Albemarle Pippin,
my grandfather, died at such an
early period in his work, about 1880,
that no very definite traditions have
been handed down as to the origin.
But remember to have heard my
father say that the first trees in the
country were two trees on the lower
part or old part of the present Mas
sic or Spring Valley place in Albe-
marie. These were old trees when
my father wasa young man; wheth-
er his father or grandfather set them
out he did not know. My impress
sion, though, is they were certainly
set out by one or the other. They
called it "The Newtown Pippin,"
and said it was considered one Of
the best Northern apples.
These two trees believe to be the
source from which all the Albemarle
Pippin trees of Piedmont, Va, have
come. For various reasons the old
name of Newtown was dropped and
the local one of Albemarle was final
ly taken up, until recently the apple
has been taking an important place
in the Northern markets, and being
Immediately recognized as the
"Newtown," the old name has come
in use again.
/ have been told that the Abe
marie development is greatly supe-
rior to the original Northern fruit,
which was started about Newtown
or Long Island.
AS to the two kinds, green and
yellow, there are differences of opin-
ion among those whose judgment we
ought to have confidence in. My
own very decided opinion is, and al
ways has been, that there is only one
kind.
This apple, as you know, is the
very best raised in the world Tin
Liverpool, in 1856, it brought from
80 to 100 per cent. more than the
best Northern apples), and, like all
superior fruits, is very susceptible
to change from climate and soil.
Grown in the limestone soils of the
valley, it is utterly worthless: in
your red lands, it is large and fine
looking and very yellow, but decays
very rapidly and is very tough; in
light-colored. dry lands, especially
if somewhat thin, it is yellow, not so
large as on rich red lands, but yet
of inferior quality; on rather moist
sand bottom lands in our mountain
valleys,::i it is very green, of fine tex
ture, good flavor and very juicy, and
greatly superior to the yellow kinds
mentioned above, and, because it is
not so rich, is by some considered
better than the genuine article, which
is grown in the black mountain hol
lows, where the soil never becomes
either very dry or very wet, and
where the tree does not get too much
sunshine on it. This apple is an in
termediate between the very green
and the very yellow, and is that
which makes the best impression in
the market. These differences are
so marked by the trees in the differ
ent places on the Spring Valley farm
and in that community, the CRAFTS
for which came from the..same source
that | am compelled to think that
there is no inherent difference in the
kinds. | consider the Albemarlc
pippin the one article of which Cen
tral Piedmont. Va. will always have
the monopoly. 1t cannot be grown
elsewhere nearly so well. Isaw some
in our market here last year grown
in Ohio or Indiana. | bought some
for the sake of their kinship; they
were evidently of the genuine stock,
but they were the toughest, most in
different apples you ever saw.